Excel H Sports SPOTLIGHT Year Two Volume Two

Excel H Sports SPOTLIGHT returns for Year number 2 which highlights performances in the FCS and BEYOND THE POWER 4 (Group of Six) college conferences. This week we take a look at the BEYOND THE POWER 4 teams.

1. Texas San Antonio 5-1 overall, 2-0 American downed South Florida 4-2 overall, 1-2 American by the score of 31 to 24. Leading the way for UTSA was QB Owen McCown 22/31 for 209 yards and a pair of running backs in A’Marion Peterson 12 carries for 92 yards and three scores and Will Henderson III who rushed 13 times for 86 yards. David Amador II lead the receiving corp with nine catches for 70 yards while on Defense, Owen Pewee, 8 total tackles and six solo tied teammate Joel Rogers with his 8 total tackles. South Florida was led by running back D J Crowther’s 20 carries for 83 yards and a score while Bryson Rodgers caught five passes for 72 yards and a score.
2.  North Texas State 4-2 overall, 2-0 in the American kept Charlotte 0-6, 0-2 in American play winless by putting up 50 points. North Texas was led by quarterback Tayven Jackson who threw for 319 yards resulting in five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Running back Jaheim White carried the ball 12 times for 105 yards and a score while receivers Justin Stevenson hauled in nine passes for 122 yards and twice crossed the goal line, Baron Tipton caught three passes for 93 yards and a score.
3. Memphis 5-1 overall, 2-0 American defeated Alabama Birmingham 3-3 overall, 1-1 in American play 38 to 13 behind Jaylin Carter‘s 19 rushes for 132 yards and two scores while on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage Mike Montgomery recorded nine total tackles, six being solo and teammate Zach Ruffin totaled seven and six being solo.  Memphis held UAB scoreless in the second half of the game.
4. Jacksonville State 4-2 overall, 2-0 CUSA downed Kennesaw State 1-4 overall, 0-1 in CUSA play 28 to 27.  Jacksonville clinched the hard-fought contest when Garrison Rippa connected on a field goal with just 51 seconds remaining in the game. Caden Creel connected on 26 of his 44 attempts for 311 yards, one score and one interception. Creel also carried the ball 10 times for another 30 yards and a score. Jalen Likely led the ground game with 11 carries for 40 yards while Deondre Johnson caught four passes for 112 yards. On defense Jonavan Carr accounted for seven total tackles as did his teammate Jameson McCullough. Kennesaw State quarterback threw for 293 yards and a score and carried the rock 15 times for 61 yards and a score Brayden Munroe had a team high seven receptions for 159 yards while Tywon Christopher led the defensive effort with 15 total tackles, 10 solos and two for loss.
5.  Miami of Ohio 3-3 overall, 1-1 Mid-American edged Massachusetts 4-2 overall, 1-2 Mid-American 20 to 19 behind Caleb Heavner‘s eleven carries for 54 yards and a score and Rodney Nelson‘s 11 carries for 52 yards. On defense the RedHawks were led by Roosevelt Andrews nine total tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. Massachusetts was led by quarterback Aeden McCarthy’ 15 of 29 for 171 yards. Teammate Derek Morris connected on 2 of 2 field goals with the longest being from 56 yards. Edward Phillipson punted five times for 231 yards and two being downed inside the red zone.
6. Buffalo 3-3 overall, 1-1 in Mid=American beat Toledo 4-2 overall, 1-1 in Mid=American play 23 to 8 behind running back Messiah Busch‘s 17 carries for 137 yards and a score while receiver Dwayne Earley Jr. caught four passes for 77 yards and Saveon Brown totaled 11 total tackles. Toledo was led by John Alan Richter‘s 22 of 35 passing for 203 yards with Terrell Crosby Jr. hauling in six passes for 69 yards while on defense Toledo was led by Amorian Smith‘s 13 total tackles, eight solo.
7.  Wyoming 3-3 overall, 2-1 Mountain West edged San Jose State 3-3 overall, 1-1 in MW play as Erik Sandvik connected on a field goal in overtime. Sandvik would finish his day three out of three field goal attempts. Sandvik‘s field goal snapped a eight game road losing streak for the Cowboys. Running backs Tyler Hughes 27 carries for 92 yards and Samuel Harris 13 carries for 67 yards and Markell Holman‘s 12 rushes for 62 yards led the offensive side of line of scrimmage while on defense Brooklyn Cheeks and Jones Thomas each accounted for eight total tackles. San Jose State was led by quarterback Luke Weaver who passed for 251 yards on 26 of 38 attempts. Running back Jabari Bates rushed for 69 yards on 16 carries and scored while receiver Carson Clark caught eight passes of 91 yards. On defense, Tuli Tagovailoa-Amosa totaled nine tackles, six solos, one sack and two for loss while Dylan Lee also totaled nine tackles.
8. South Alabama 4-2 overall, 2-0 Sun Belt claimed victory in an exciting game 56 to 49 over Arkansas State 2-4 overall, 0-2 Sun Belt behind running back Keenan Phillips 19 carries for 157 yards and three scores and a dramatic kickoff return of 100 yards for another score. Fellow backfield mate P J Martin racked up 95 yards on his sixteen carries and a score. On defense, Cole Blaylock totaled 10 with seven being solo tackles while Damyrion Darby picked off a pass and rambled for 58 yards for another score. Arkansas State was led by quarterback Trey Owens for 418 yards of passing on 32 of 43 attempts which totaled four touchdowns with receiver Hunter Simson catching nine of those passes for 145 yards and two scores and on defense Joe Drew leading the way with 13 total tackles and six being solos.
9. Louisiana Tech 3-2 overall, 1-0 Sun Belt edged Louisiana 4-2 overall, 1-1 Sun Bet 32 to 31. Leading the Tech attack was Blake Baker 32 of 42 passing attempts for 319 yards and three scores while running back Andrew Burnette carried the ball fourteen times for 85 yards while a trio of receivers produced results as Eli Finley caught nine passes of 114 yards and two scores, Talyn Shettron caught eight for 102 yards and Jalen Mickens caught nine for 92 yards and a score.
10. Coastal Carolina 2-4 overall, 1-1 Sun Belt edged Marshall 3-3 overall, 0-2 Sun Belt 27 to 21 behind running back Dominic Lee Nicely‘s 169 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown and catching three passes for 42 more yards. Marshall was led by Zion Turner‘s 219 yards passing on 18 of 27 attempts and running back Judah Price‘s 12 carries for 124 yards and a score while Adrian Norton would account for 77 more yards on four receptions. On defense Javae Gilmore and Cannon Lewis both accounted for ten total tackles while Coastal Carolina was led on defense by Se’Von McDowell and Marcellius Pulliam‘s nine total tackles each.